October 22, 2024: In a significant development, the Punjab government has granted permission to prosecute Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in three sacrilege cases stemming from incidents in 2015 that ignited major protests among the Sikh community. This decision follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that lifted a stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the trial against Ram Rahim.

The sacrilege cases relate to the theft and desecration of a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari, Faridkot district. On June 1, 2015, the holy scripture was stolen from a gurdwara, and soon after, torn pages were discovered in a nearby village, inciting widespread outrage and protests. The unrest escalated into violence, resulting in police firing that claimed the lives of two protestors in Behbal Kalan and left several others injured in Kotkapura.

In addition to Ram Rahim, the Punjab government has also authorized the prosecution of three national committee members of Dera Sacha Sauda: Pardeeo Kler, Harsh Dhuri, and Sandeep Bareta.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by ADGP Surinder Pal Singh Parmar, had previously indicted Ram Rahim in July 2022, identifying him as a key conspirator in the sacrilege cases. The charges fall under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses offenses related to the hurt of religious sentiments, and necessitates government approval for prosecution.

Currently, Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of murder and rape. He remains incarcerated in Sunaria jail in Rohtak but has been granted paroles multiple times, often coinciding with elections.